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Designed to look like a car yet ending up as a cross between a cement mixer and a washing machine - interesting given Lightburn's core business - the Adelaide-built Zeta was cheap, cheap and cheap.
On the upside, the body - made of fibreglass - couldn't rust. The Villiers engine could be made to run backwards at the flick of a switch, negating the need for a specific reverse gear. So the four gears forward were also four gears backwards.
It was excruciating slow and only eclipsed that criticism by a 13kW 324cc two-cylinder two-stroke engine that was deafening, smoky and rough. Ride comfort was basic. Other than the ability of the seats to be easily removed to access the rear because the sedan - actually a wagon - had no rear hatch.
On top of all that, Harold Lightburn's concept of the Zeta becoming the household's second car had merit but his little car was launched at the same time - and almost the same price - as the Mini.
There was also a ute version and a racing roadster called the Sports with a 493cc 15.5kW Sachs two-stroke twin, 10-inch wheels, no doors and a 400kg weight.
However, despite ridicule a team of three Zeta's entered the 1964 Ampol Trial and one finished, albeit in last position. Its courageous 11,200km run, however, failed to lift sales. Lightburn called it quits in 1965 with sales of 363 sedans and 28 Sports.
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